11/27/2016

Robolights 2016

Robolights is the artistic creation of Kenny Irwin (standing over there with me - we were lucky enough to spot him strollin' around), a lifelong Palm Springs resident who has been working on this masterwork for 30 years. Looking much like a dystopian Small World ride, Robolights examines the materialism that undermines spirituality and feeds the military industrial complex in a basically light-hearted way using mainly found and discarded materials. Or maybe I'm readin' too much into it, but that's what I got.

Anyway, Kenny's kinda like Noah Purifoy with about 10 million Xmas lights -

good social consciousness and a wacky sense of humor. Go see his set up (it's at the family homestead in Palm Springs) if you're anywhere around the area. And please donate what you can. Kenny ain't exactly getting rich off his art projects and electricity costs a lot. Worse, he's having issues with the city planning commission over his extension cords and to top it off, his dad. Kenny Irwin Sr., passed on back in July. Hasn't been an easy year for this guy.

Salaam alaikum, Kenny! Hoping that you overcome these obstacles and have a happy, prosperous and creative 2017.

Now Robolights is not a children's entertainment (but if your kids like robots, they'll lose their minds with happiness) and there's some adult content, so use your judgement. Over in the left column, there's a whole photo album from this year's Robolights. He switches it up all the time.

PS - Update: Kenny's still in trouble with the city, but now it's an inflatable Santa on his roof, and an if-fy wall over by the dovecote. Have a care if yer walkin' on a windy night. Also - the Robolights docents and volunteers are just awesome.